collocation

general comment for ue oral candidates

pronunciation reminder for ue oral

how to prepare for ip

oral questions set 2

oral questions set 1

每日一讀音

asthma noun 

/ˈæs.mə//ˈæz-/ [U]

a medical condition which makes breathing difficult by causing the air passages to become narrow or blocked

an asthma sufferer

an asthma attack

part of speech: exercise 2

arguementative/expository

arguementative/expository:

1. introduction:


   a. When asked about...., many people say that....but others believe that ...

   b. When it comes to ...some people believe that ... There is probably some truth in their statement, but I think quite differently. c..... opinions vary widely. Some view ... as ... while others claim that....

2. reason paragraph:

a. ....can account for....'

b. among the most convincing reasons cited by people for the ..is c.

3. examples:

a. take , for example, ....

b. take a look at...

c. Consider the cased of ...

d. no one can deny the fact that ....

4 conclusion:

a. From what has been discussed above, we may conclude that ....

b. taking into account of all three factors, we may reasonably draw the conclusion that....

c.judging form the above, it is obvious that ....

In bad condition

1. dilapidated = describes something old and in poor condition

eg. The hotel we stayed in was really dilapidated.

2. wrecked =very badly damaged

3. smashed up

4. run-down=describes buildings or areas that are in very bad condition

Common mistakes (II): comma splice/ run-on sentence

Run-on sentence: no punctuation or conjunction

A run-on sentence is a sentence in which two or more independent clauses (that is, complete sentences) are joined with no punctuation or conjunction. It is generally considered to be a grammatical error.

eg. It is nearly half past five we cannot reach town before dark.

A run-on sentence does not mean a sentence is too long; longer sentences are likely to be run-ons only when they contain more than one complete idea. A run-on sentence can be as short as four words—for instance: I drive she walks. In this case there are two complete ideas (independent clauses): two subjects paired with two (intransitive) verbs. So long as clauses are punctuated appropriately, a writer can assemble multiple independent clauses in a single sentence; in fact, a properly constructed sentence can be extended indefinitely.

Comma splice: a type of run-on sentence

A comma splice is the use of a comma to join ("splice") two independent clauses in a

sentence, where the clauses are not connected by a coordinating conjunction.

Some grammarians also include a comma splice, in which two independent clauses are joined with a comma, as a type of run-on sentence,[1] while others exclude comma splices from the definition of a run-on sentence.[2][3]

e.g. It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.[1]

Comma splices are generally considered errors in both British and American English although they are acceptable in some languages, including French and German.

Comma splices are condemned in The Elements of Style, a popular American English style guide by E.B. White and William Strunk, Jr.[2]

According to Joanne Buckley,[3] writers often use conjunctive adverbs to separate two independent clauses instead of using a coordinating conjunction and, in doing so, create comma splices.

A coordinating conjunction is one of the following seven words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. A conjunctive adverb, on the other hand, is a word like furthermore, however, moreover. However, a conjunctive adverb and a comma or a conjunctive adverb between two commas is not strong enough to separate two independent clauses and creates a comma splice. Only semicolons and periods are strong enough to separate two independent clauses without a conjunction.

Controversy about comma-splice

Grammarians disagree as to whether a comma splice also constitutes a run-on sentence. Some define run-on sentences to include comma splices,[4] but others limit the term to strictly mean those in which independent clauses are joined without any punctuation, thereby excluding comma splices.[5][6]

Strunk & White note that splices are sometimes acceptable when the clauses are short and alike in form, such as: The gate swung apart, the bridge fell, the portcullis was drawn up.

Fowler[7] (third edition, 1996) notes a number of examples by reputable authors: “ We are all accustomed to the ... conjoined sentences that turn up from children or from our less literate friends... Curiously, this habit of writing comma-joined sentences is not uncommon in both older and present-day fiction. Modern examples: I have the bed still, it is in every way suitable for the old house where I live now (E. Jolley); Marcus ... was of course already quite a famous man, Ludens had even heard of him from friends at Cambridge (I. Murdoch). ”

The comma splice is often considered acceptable in poetic writing. The editors of the Jerusalem Bible translate Isaiah 11:4 as: His word is a rock that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked.[8]

Lynne Truss[9] observes: "so many highly respected writers observe the splice comma that a rather unfair rule emerges on this one: only do it if you're famous." She cites Samuel Beckett, E. M. Forster, and Somerset Maugham. "Done knowingly by an established writer, the comma splice is effective, poetic, dashing. Done equally knowingly by people who are not published writers, it can look weak or presumptuous. Done ignorantly by ignorant people, it is awful."

Solution to comma-splice

Simply removing the comma does not correct the error, but results in a run-on sentence. There are several ways to correct this:

l           Change the comma to another punctuation mark:

It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.

It is nearly half past five – we cannot reach town before dark.

l           Write the two clauses as two separate sentences:

It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before dark.

l           Insert a coordinating conjunction following the comma:

It is nearly half past five, and we cannot reach town before dark.

It is nearly half past five, so we cannot reach town before dark.

l           Make one clause dependent on the other:

As it is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.

Because it is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.

l           Use a semicolon or dash and a conjunctive adverb:

It is nearly half past five; therefore, we cannot reach town before dark.

It is nearly half past five – therefore, we cannot reach town before dark.

SCMP Feb 09, 2010:Incineration should no longer be a dirty word

Hong Kong, like many cities worldwide, has a troubled historic relationship with incineration as a waste management option. A 1989 white paper published by the government identified the incineration of solid waste as a key contributor to air pollution and decided to cease the practice for good, leading to the closure of the four local incineration plants between 1991 and 1997.

With this legacy and baggage, coupled with viable concerns over air pollution in a high-rise city, the community understandably is hostile to the incineration concept. It was not until 2008 that incineration re-emerged as the preferred approach but, after so many years of stigma, the government faces an uphill struggle to get it accepted.

The situation today is different elsewhere. During an environmental tour to Japan last October, arranged by several industry groups including the Hong Kong Waste Management Association, I was astounded by the quality and extensive use of incineration technology for waste management. Technology has advanced such that modern incineration constitutes a state-of-the-art, hi-tech, clean and sustainable waste management solution, much different from the dirty, smelly, smoke-belching incinerators of the 1990s.

Japanese companies are designing and building plants that incinerate waste at a much higher temperature, with negligible levels of emitted pollutants, including dioxins. Bearing in mind these dramatic advances, negative perceptions regarding incineration are no longer as pertinent as they once were. In this context, the government is right to recognise incineration as a key strategy in the fight to stave off an impending waste management crisis - as it has with recent proposals for integrated waste management facilities. In terms of environmental sustainability, the concept represents a welcome step away from the expansion of landfills as Hong Kong's sole waste management strategy - one that has begun to display dangerous tendencies. The recently approved expansion of the Southeast New Territories landfill into a section of Clear Water Bay Country Park, for example, is a travesty. When deciding the details of the integrated facilities, environmental and social sustainability must be key. To be sustainable, incineration should satisfy three conditions. First, any plant built in Hong Kong must be a "waste-to-energy" facility, whereby heat and/or electricity are supplied back to the surrounding community either at a discount or free. Second, the facilities must be a community asset with a recognised civic role. Third, the facilities need not be an industrial eyesore. In Japan, incinerators are often architecturally outstanding contributions to the skyline. All of Tokyo's non-recyclable waste has been incinerated since 1996. With limited space and a need to protect our country parks, Hong Kong has a lot to learn. We must now further educate the public and nurture their acceptance of incineration as a safe, sustainable and effective solution for non-recyclable waste. Habits must also be transformed to counteract the very "wet" nature of our waste, which makes the process less efficient. Importantly, the public must be encouraged to recognise that incineration of non-recyclable or residual waste - the fourth "R" - is only part of the solution, and embrace the "three Rs" of "reduce", "reuse" and "recycle". Some have argued for another "R" to be added: "responsibility". We are part of the problem, and we are part of the solution. Through education, increased awareness and a willingness to follow the high standards of nations such as Japan, the integrated waste management facilities could be just one element of a truly sustainable waste management revolution. Timothy J. Peirson-Smith is managing director of Executive Counsel Limited, a sustainability-focused public affairs and strategic communication consultancy based in Hong Kong. He is also chairman of the Business Policy Unit, British Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong

part of speech: exercise